Trousers stretcher and creaser.



U. G. ROUMILLAT & D. M. CALDWELL.

TROUSERS STRETGHER AND GREASER.

APPLICATION PI LED FEB. 21, 1908.

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TJNTTED STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

ULYSSES O. ROUMILLAT AND DAVID M. CALDWELL, OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

TROUSERS STRETCHER AND CREASER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Application filed February 21, 1908. Serial No. 416,969.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ULYSSES O. RoUMiL- LAT and DAVID M. CALDWELL, citizens of the United States, both residing at Columbia, in the county of Richland and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trousers Stretchers and Creasers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trousers stretchers, and its primary obect is to provide a device of this character of simple, inexpensive and effective construction.

A further object of the invention is, to provide a trousers stretcher, comprising two hinged disconnected clamps with novel means for securing the jaws or bars of each clamp tegether, said securing means being capable of ready manipulation, and being also adapted to be easily applied to and removed from the clamping bars or jaws.

The invention comprises two disconnected clamps, one designed to engage the trousers at a point near their bottom ends and the other at a point adjacent to the waist end of the trousers, each of said clamps consisting of a certain construction, arrangement and ocaition of parts hereinafter specifically set ort i.

The construction of the improvement will be fully described hereinafter, in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and its features of novelty will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawing-Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the improved stretcher applied to a pair of trousers. Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale of the upper clamp member of the stretcher, and Fig. 3 is a view of the clamp connecting device detached.

As the construction of the two clamps employed is the same, except thatthe lower clamp is preferably shorter than the upper one, a description of one will sufiice for both.

The reference numerals 1 and 2 designate two like bars, preferably of wood, connected together at one end by a hinge 3, and serving as clamping jaws between which the trousers are secured. The free ends of the bars 1 and 2 are each formed with a longitudinal slot 4 open at its outer end, said slots registering with each other to receive a removable connecting and tensioning device comprising a bolt- 5, provided at its rear end with a head 6, and a curved or cam-shaped spring-plate 7, secured at one end to the forward end of the bolt and having its free end bent to provide a fingei piece 8. The curved body portion of the spring-plate 7 afiords a a convex or cam-shaped surface 9 adapted to bear upon the outer side of the front bar 1 and firmly clamp the trousers between the bars 1 and 2.

t will be noted that the open slots 4 permit of the ready insertion and withdrawal of the bolt 5. The bolt is adapted to be given a partial revolution by grasping the finger-piece 8, and the cam-action of the curved spring-plate firmly locks the two clamping bars together.

While the invention is notrestricted to any specific means for securing the spring cam-plate to the bolt, we have shown the plate 7 as provided with a fiat head 10 formed with an opening 11 to receive the end of the bolt, said end 12 being circumferentially reduced and screw-threaded to provide a shoulder 13, and to receive a nut 14 which secures the spring plate in place upon the bolt.

The upper clamp is suspended by means of a suitable hanger 15 from a hook 16 projecting from a board, wall, door, or like support 17. From the lower clamp depends a loop 18 connected centrally to the upper end of a rubber strip or spring 19, the lower end of which is secured to a hook 20 projecting from the support 17. The ends of the hanger 15 and loop 18 are attached to the clamps near the ends of the latter to avoid a central pull or strain upon the trousers.

The utility and operation of the improvement are obvious from the foregoing description in connection with the drawing, and it will be apparent that the device may be readily and easily manipulated, the curved free ends of the spring cams serving as convenient finger-grasps. As the two clamps are not connected by a rigid connecting rod or bar, or other means, the entire device may be packed into small compass when not in use, or for transportation.

Having thus fully described our invention what is desired to secure by Letters Patent and claim is 1. A trousers stretcher comprising two clamps, each consisting of two bars hinged together at one end, and longitudinally disconnected clamps, each consisting of two bars hinged together at one end, and slotted at their opposite end, a connecting and tensioning device consisting of a bolt fitting Within the slots of said bars, and a curved spring-plate secured to one end of said bolt, said spring plate terminating in a fingerpiece, a hanger for the upper clamp, and a loop depending from the lower clamp, said loop being connected centrally to the upper end of an elastic strip.

3. A trousers stretcher, comprising two disconnected clamps, each consisting of two bars hinged together at one end, and formed at the opposite end with longitudinal slots and a connecting and tensioning device consisting of a bolt provided With a head at one end, and circumferentially reduced and threaded at its opposite end, a curved spring plate having a perforated head to receive the threaded end of said bolt, and a nut to rigidly secure said plate. upon the bolt.

ULYSSES C. ROUMILLAT. DAVID M. CALDWELL. In presence of J. D. M101, ENEY A. ROUGH. 

